David Fernandez

When David Fernandez co-founded Integrated Cooling Solutions in 2009, it was a milestone built on years of education, preparation, and entrepreneurial drive. Inspired by parents who fled Cuba in the 60s, the first-generation American grew up with a natural affinity for math and science. “My father, uncle, cousin, and brother are all electrical engineers,” he says. “It’s in my DNA.”

At Georgia Tech, his EE major was paired with a minor in economics. Fernandez credits a rigorous internship with Motorola for real-world exposure to research, development, manufacturing, and sales. “It forced me to focus on public speaking and presentation — along with insights about how I could be part of something meaningful and contributing to the greater good.”

Post graduation, Fernandez landed a coveted job with Trane’s Miami office in 2000. In his role as sales engineer, he quickly became immersed in every aspect of the commercial HVAC business. “I worked with engineers on design, with contractors on bids, procurement and installation, along with owners via the construction chain for the lifecycle of their buildings.”

A few years in, Fernandez found himself the last man standing when his several sales colleagues left to start their own ventures. Suddenly, a $70 million business split among eight sales reps rested squarely on his shoulders. Along with building and leading a new team of sales engineers, his expanded role offered another invaluable opportunity. “I met and formed a relationship with every single customer in the market,” he notes, “relationships that still yield benefits today.”

The experience also set the stage for his own entrepreneurial venture with long-time family friend and mechanical engineer, Max Marrero. “We saw the need for a rep firm that offered everything under one roof,” he explains. “The idea had already been adopted in other metro areas, but there wasn’t a commercial-industrial, one-stop shop in the Miami-metro area.”

When ICS launched in 2009, it revolutionized the local market. “We redefined the expectations of our clients, and set the bar for a lot of our competitors in the way we service clients,” Fernandez says.

From the beginning, Fernandez knew that exemplary client service would hinge on nurturing rock-solid relationships with employees and manufacturers.

“We try to focus, in very specific order, on our employees, our manufacturers, and our customers. We have it in that order on purpose,” he admits. “We’ve built a culture that empowers our employees. We put them first, before profit or anything else. Yet, the way we treat our manufacturing partners is also critical. We don’t treat our vendors in a way that maximizes our profits and minimizes theirs. We have to see them as a life-long partner. Then, with a solid team and tight manufacturer relationships in place, we can collectively go and serve our customers.”

With an enviable culture and year-after-year growth, it’s not surprising that Meriton was eager to partner with ICS. The symbiotic acquisition allows Fernandez to stay focused on what he has always cared about most as he and his colleagues continue to expand ICS.

“I try to harness the talents and skills I’m blessed with on a daily basis, and use them for the betterment of every single person ICS employs, their families, the manufacturers we represent, and the customers we serve.”

 

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